News

3rdEye Drums: April Issue Stars Hannah Welton

By Jordan Liffengren

Published February 11, 2015

DRUM! Magazine announced today the April issue will feature Hannah Ford Welton, the star of Prince's all-girl band, 3rdEye Girl, which features Hannah, Donna Grantis (guitar) and Ida Neilsen (bass). The former teen drumming prodigy now anchors the band that has wowed audiences for the past year. The street date for the issue is March 17, 2015.

Readers And Newsstand Get A Bonus

In addition, the April issue features a special minibook insert--HOW TO TUNE DRUMS--as a bonus to readers. This handy guide serves as an intro and refresher to getting tuning right.

Other stories in the April issue include a roundup of the Drummers Of The Year as selected by the readers of DRUM! plus the following features:

Funk legend Mike Clark

Nicki Minaj tour drummer Darryl "Lilman" Howell

Mark O'Connell of Taking Back Sunday

Percussionist Koko Jones, who has played with Santana, Whitney Houston, and others

A Complete Guide to Multipad Electronic Percussion Instruments. We put all of the major multipad products on the market to the test. Who comes out on top? You'll need the issue to find out.

Instructional Feature: 20 Ways To Play Shuffles

Look for special displays of the the April Issue at Barnes & Noble and find the magazine at Guitar Center and other great book or music stores.

Hit Like A Girl Contestants Take Drumming To A Higher Level

Past Participants: Where Are They Now/

By Jordan Liffengren

Publishing January 23, 2015

After three years, 15 winners and hundreds of contestants from dozens of countries, recent posts from past participants of the Hit Like A Girl female drumming contest highlight some of the positive, long-term impacts of the program. While several of the girls and women that participated in the contest have gone on to high-profile activities in the music business, many report being empowered by the experience, elevating their drumming and becoming more serious about their music.

The 2014 champion Riesha Fayson (US) performed at the PASIC convention in November and is currently touring China with R&B ambassador Carlton J. Smith. 2013 winner Val Sepulveda (Chile) is an instructor at Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles. And 2012 champ De’Arcus Curry (US) (right) is out on the road with R&B artist T-Pain. Other former finalists, including Venzella Joy (Beyoncé,US), Anika Nilles (YouTube drumming sensation from Germany) and Michaela Brezovsky (body and vocal percussion group Rhythm4, Austrian), have also taken advantage of opportunities created by the contest to expand their playing and careers.

Even some of the girls in the contest’s under 18 division have experienced the Hit Like A Girl effect. Milana Nigro joined a band and had the opportunity to play with Stewart Copeland and Sheila E. Marlhy Murphy’s band, Pretty Little Demons, toured and performed at Lollapalooza last summer and Natalie DePergola was recently featured on the Modern Drummer magazine website.

One result of the contest that is often mentioned by past participants— and shared by a majority of them— is a renewed commitment and increased passion for playing drums. “Being a finalist in 2013 helped me grow my band’s fan base, inspire other female drummers, and gave me the confidence to keep going,” says 2013 Finalist Justine Curry. “I still have people coming up to me and saying they recognize me from my contest video. It's a great feeling.”

Justine’s comments are echoed by a number of post-contest stories from other Hit Like A Girl drummers. Here are a handful:

Since last year's contest Megan Clarke opened her own teaching studio, was hired for more studio work, joined a jazz combo and has been networking with industry professionals.

Her entries in the 2013 and 2014 contests inspired Vicky Reader (AKA "Buttfairy", right) to take jazz drumming lessons even though she is a diehard metal drummer. The contest also encouraged her to make more drum videos and raise her online profile.

Betka Beatrix Bednárová was inspired to practice 10-15 hours a week for half a year, after which she played many shows in her country and found a new drumming friend to practice with.

Luisafer Kewn (US) continues to play gigs as often as possible with her band. She found that the video she made for last year's contest helped her promote herself and the band online.

After HLAG 2014 Jas Kayser left the UK to study at The Berklee College of Music in Boston. Once there, she was asked to go on tour with The Furies and had “the most amazing time performing in Nashville, New Jersey, St Louis and Cleveland— places I’d only ever seen in movies”.

Aaliyah Jay (right, UK)credits the Hit Like A Girl contest with opening doors to play gigs and tour the US. She is now the Musical Director for 2 bands and runs her own music event.

Klaudia Czerwinska (Poland) has been playing with bands in the Netherlands and other European countries. This year she became one of HLAG’s twenty International Ambassadors.

In the past months, Caitlin McMullen started taking lessons “to learn drums other than from the self-taught perspective (which has blown my mind), started speaking with more drummers to exchange technique/gear thoughts and pushed myself to become better and more open to learning and new ideas. I feel so... enlightened.”

Based on the success of the Hit Like A Girl contest in promoting and supporting the female drumming community, there’s one more trend that’s shared by past participants as well as future ones: the excitement and anticipation of the March 1, 2015 start of the 2015 Hit Like A Girl contest. As Dotrup Drumz from Lagos, Nigeria says, “I went in for the 2014 edition and all I can say is, ‘Look out for Dotrup Drumz in 2015!’.”

Since the Hit Like A Girl Contest began in 2011 there have been nearly 1,200 entrants from 42 countries and more than 6,000,000 web impressions. Previous sponsors have included Guitar Center, GoPro, DRUM!, Drum Workshop, Yamaha and Zildjian as well as many other leading drum, percussion, hardware, electronics and media companies. For 2015, Hit Like A Girl is expanding its reach with the International Ambassador program; a worldwide network of female drummers promoting the contest and benefits of drumming to local players and media.

New Roles In Store For Sabian Artist Relations Team

Sabian Cymbals today upgraded two employees when they announced the appointments of Chris Stankee to Global Artist Relations Director and Christian Koch to International Artist Relations Manager.

"Chris and Christian are passionate about what they do. They’ve learned from the best so they treat artists like family, and with great respect. There isn’t an AR team with more credibility and influence anywhere in the industry." comments Sabian VP of Marketing, Stacey Montgomery-Clark.

As Global Artist Relations Director, Chris Stankee will be responsible for all aspects of Sabian's artist program worldwide, including recruitment, development and service. Chris also plays a key role in Product development and Sabian's social media. Stankee is a Berklee grad and industry veteran, with 20 years of MI experience in retail, teaching, performing and touring professionally. He has made several key signings for Sabian, and has been instrumental in developing many important cymbal models like the Holy China with Chad Smith.

And, he's close with perhaps their biggest endorser, Neil Peart. "Since meeting Chris on my first visit to the SABIAN factory in Meductic, New Brunswick, over ten years ago, we have been very good friends," says Neil. "Apart from testing prototype cymbals together and his occasional appearances as guest drum-tech, there have been many requests for promotional appearances, dinner dates, or joining me on motorcycling adventures. Thus I am delighted to see him promoted to this international office -- hoping he'll have less time to bother me."

As International Artist Relations Manager, Christian Koch is responsible for recruitment, servicing, and developing the SABIAN international roster. Christian also plays an important role in product development, and is a regular content contributor to social media and global marketing activities. Koch is also an industry veteran. He won the prestigious Vic Firth award during his tenure with German distributor M&T, and serves as a well-respected advisor to the likes of Dave Weckl, Jojo Mayer, Christoph Schneider and Ralph Salmins.

Ralph says, “With cymbal sounds, Christian’s deep knowledge and impeccable taste mean that when I’m looking for something, I barely need to describe what I’m after… Christian just knows. This guy is a cymbal sound master and a gentleman and these attributes make him the ‘perfect’ artist relations manager. Congratulations Christian and I hope all those Sabian artists worldwide enjoy being with you as much as I have done.”

Hit Like A Girl Contest: It's About Time

By Jordan Liffengren

Published January 20, 2014

The Fourth Annual Hit Like A Girl Contest Opens For Entries On March 1, 2015.

Celebrity spokesperson and internationally-renowned drum artist Didi Negron (right) along with the producers of the Hit Like A Girl Contest are proud to announce that the 2015 Hit Like Girl Contest opens for entries at 12:01AM PST on Sunday, March 1, 2015. Hit Like A Girl is the world’s only contest for female drummers as well as the only global drumming contest. The theme of this year’s competition is “It’s About Time.” Girls and women in the under-18 and 18-and-over divisions can enter by merely recording a drumming video, uploading it to YouTube and registering at http://www.hitlikeagirlcontest.com. Entrants can submit videos of their drum covers, play-alongs or performances or choose from a selection of royalty-free backing tracks available on the HLAG website.

During the course of the contest a pair of “Weekly Winners” in each age group will be chosen by a team of a celebrity drummer and drum industry executive each week. These 20 players, along with the top 20 from two weeks of fan voting, will become finalists and judged by a panel of celebrity drummers with the Champion and Runner-Up winners announced on May 7, 2015.

For a complete list of rules, prizes, sponsors, judges and additional information please visit http://www.hitlikeagirlcontest.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Since the Hit Like A Girl Contest began in 2011 there have been nearly 1,200 entrants from 42 countries and more than 6,000,000 web impressions. Previous sponsors have included Guitar Center, GoPro, DRUM!, Drum Workshop, Yamaha and Zildjian as well as many other leading drum, percussion, hardware, electronics and media companies. For 2015, Hit Like A Girl is expanding its reach with the International Ambassador program; a worldwide network of female drummers promoting the contest and benefits of drumming to local players and media.

Famed Drummer Dallas Taylor Passes

By Radim McCue

Published January 9, 2014

Famed drummer Dallas Taylor died today. He was a great drummer (and composer) who came to fame when he recorded Crosby, Stills & Nash eponymous debut album in 1969. Though best known for his work with that band he also toured or recorded with Manassas, Van Morrison, Paul Butterfield, Bill Wyman, and other bands. His first recordings were with '60s psychedelic pioneers Clear Light.

An announcement was made on Facebook by his wife Patti who said, "This morning at 2:30 am I lost the love of my life Dallas W. Taylor, he came into my life almost 18 years ago and saved me as much as i may have saved him," Patti posted on Facebook.

"To me he was just a Good Man, a Good Friend, a Good Father, a Good Grandfather or Pop Pop, a Great Drummer and much beloved by many," she continued. "I cannot even find the words to put down to say how grateful I am for the many friends and family who have been there for both of us these many days he has spent in the hospital, especially last night. I know he is a peace. He will be missed beyond words, it is so very hard to imagine my life without him by my side, but i feel his love even as i write these words."

Taylor was challenged by drug problems and had a liver transplant in 1990, and worked as an addiction specialist and interventionist. .

See the Entertainment Tonight profile of Dallas from 1990 below, along with a Spotify list of tunes on which he played.